Two-part pocket case



May 31, 1949 m. :{AP ,,.A-: 7 9

TWO-PART POCKET CASE Filed Jan. 6, 19455 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. MA X (A PLAA/ y 1949- M. KAPLAN I 2,471,963

TWO-PART POCKET CASE Filed Jan. 6, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

MA X A A PLA /V Patented May 31, 1949 UNITED :sfmrEis POGKET .CASE

Max Kaplan, New 'York,"-N.Y.

Application January 6, 1949,.-.Serial No.1 69 ,458

7" Claims. .1

T-IThis. invention relatesto .pocketcases such .as vanity casesand .c'igarette cases, and .in a. .preferred form relatesto a combination of .thetwo.

"The general objectbf .the..invention istoimprove pocket cases. A primary object of the invention .is to. providev a po'cketcase having. two compartments which are. individually... accessible independently. of. one another.

.-It has alreadyubeenproposed to combine.-a cigarette case and a vanity. case by using .a single .pocket case which .opensin themiddle; and storing. cigarettes in one sidetand vanity articles .in the other. However, such a combination suffers f-rom-v the clifficultythat tobacco from. the cigarettes. tends to get .into the vanity. compartment, and conversely, .faceypowder from .the .vanity .compartment.tendseto reach the. cigarettecompartment. Largely formthis reasonsuch a combined casev has not proved ras=popularas might beexpected. -A. further disadvantage has been -:the reduction of ':.the cigarettecapacity. ofthe case-to onlyhalf-the. normal. capacity. One..ob- -j ect of my. invention-is to. overcome the foregoing zdifficulties and tovprovide, acombined cigarette .case and vanity casezin-which there is no contact rbetweenthe cigarette. compartment and the vanity compartment,- and.no danger-of contamination of l the contents of one. by. the .contents of the other.

A popular type of pocket case is one inv'which .the :topand. bottom are made-up of a soft covering spread tautly" around rigid metallic frames, \which' are hinged" together. Inaccordancewith a further feature and" object of1my:invention-,.an auxiliary caseisnadded to-a :mainspockettcase: of .this charactergthe. auxiliary case preferablybeing "different in. shape". andasize'and being-made..-of contrasting material, :preferably with a; polished metal finish which contrasts with and. ornaments sthe softmaterial. of the main; pocket case. The :main' :case is; preferably square or rectangular, and may :belused as .'.a.;cigare.tte: case, while. the

auxiliary case is preferably circu1ar,.:andr:may qbe used as avanity "case.

""To accomplish the foregoing general= objects, and other more spe'cific 'objects "which will: hereinaf-ter appear; my-inven'tionresides-in the-pdcket caseelements and their relation one to another, as are hereinafter'more particularly described 'in the following specification. The specificationpis accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. 1..is' a. perspective .viewbf, a pocket case embodying features of my cinvention withi the auxiliary compartment shown open;

.iFig. 2.. is a similar perspective -view, with .the main compartmentshown. Open;

IFig. -3. is ,.a,.partially sectioned exploded view showing .many '.-of .the parts .in separated \coridition;

1' Fig. 4. issa fragmentary. sectiomdrawn v.to, enlareed scale andtakerrapproximately .onthe line .4-.-..4.of Fig.4;

Fi .5. is a partiallwsectioned exploded. viewpf 10 an. auxiliary cover;

, Fig".- 6. .-is..a, partially. sectioned assembly..of:..the ,same;

I Fig. '7..is.a fragmentary.sectiomsimilanto Fig. 6 ,but taken, througha .normal; edge,..portion,-,,and

' ..including.a base ring;

Fig. 8..is.a sectionsimilarto Fig-7 but showing .a modification;

Fig... 9 .is.-.a ..plan. view. .of... a. ,combined casee cf .modified shapeaand Fig. 10' shcws.a.-modification.

Referring toLthe .-draw.ing,- and morev particularly-[tor Fig. 1, tiles-combined, rl ocketv case. comprisesia .main.case-.-M. and a superposed auxiliary ,case .A. -The main:case M\has-.a;bottom IZ-and aimaincover. Itwhich arezmade of flexible. ma-

, terial. .spread-.=taut around.,-a,- rigid .frame. The

auxiliary .:.case.:A includesaan auxiliary base I 6 randacover I8. ..It..wi1l be evident from .a-comparison. ofv Figs. 11 and. 2. that. theauxiliary. caseA maybe opened'as-showmin Eigil without open- ;ing..the..main. case and.-c'onverse1y,- that. the

.main.,case..may be 'QDened..as, -.shown. in- Fig.. 2,

without opening the auxiliary base. .In the -present, examplaand in. preferred ,form; {the menu ..case' M. acts.as..a,.cigarette case which. receives layers of Qi arettes. .in. the lower and .upper. .ppr- ..tions...thereof. The cigarettes are retaineddn .place -by-iany. suitable means such as. the .metal .holders .20.ar"1d;.22awhich.areuhingedat .24. and 26 .bmmeans of; spring'..hinges ..to hold the...same against the cigarettes. The..particular:.;holders .here shownare adapted.to ..ho1d ci arettesidisposed ieither longitudinally. ortransversely, of the *case.

.ilReierring now to. Fig. 3.1 it.will.beseenthatthe auxiliary, base .1 (its. provided .with. a tpluralitupf .tangsJSQspaced. aboutits, periphery. These tangs ,arefsharp. and are. adaptedto-penetrate .the 1 material of. the .main, cover. illie. 4fshows' how .the .tarlgsvv '30 .are'. bentjifiatinside ,the .[cover .1 4, thus .securingltheauxiliary ,base to. the main cover. .The auxiliary. cover is .hinged.v on. the auxiliary .base, as isindicated. at aun'Fi 1. I

'Z'Themain .case. is.preferably;j,though not-nieces;

sarily constructed in accordance with the teachterial 40. '4 is somewhat complicated by the lock means, the

form a mating flange 68.

connected by a top wall.

ings of my Patent 2,425,540 issued August 12, 1947. The construction may be briefly reviewed with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing. The frame is made of metal and comprises a spreader ring 34, a clamping ring 36, and a finishing ring 38. The covering material, for example, imitation leather indicated at 40, is spread taut around the spreader ring 34. A layer of stiffening material 42, such as thin cardboard, may be disposed inside the covering material 40. The edges of the covering material are folded downwardly, inwardly, and then upwardly about the spreader ring, whereupon the clamping ring 36 is pressed into position, thereby locking the covering material in taut condition. In accordance with the present invention, the auxiliary case is added at this stage of the assembly. The tangs 38 are forced through the cover material 40 and. 52, and are bent flat on the inside. The assembly of the main case is then resumed by inserting a lining material 44 which conceals the bent tangs. The lining may be a rich moire fabric to enhance the appearance of the case. The edges of the lining are concealed when the finishing ring 38 is added. The latter is preferably given a bright polish and is finished with gold or other precious metal. It includes not only an inside wall 46 and a face wall 48, but also an inside flange 50 which bears against the lining, and an outside flange 52 which is pressed against the cover material, all as has been described in detail in my aforesaid Patent 2,425,540.

In Fig. 3 the bottom I2 of the main case is shown in assembled relation. Except for the lock, it corresponds to the cover part of the main case, which is shown with its parts separated in Fig. 3, and assembled in Fig. 4. By referring to Fig. 4 it will be seen how the covering material 48 is folded about the spreader ring 34 and is locked in position by the clamping ring 36. After adding the auxiliary base [6 and the lining 4, the finishing rings 38 is added. This fits tightly within the clamping ring 36, and its outside flange bears tightly against the covering ma- The particular section shown in Fig.

A slide 69 is slidable on rail 56, and includes a lip 62 which engages the rib 54 to lock the main case in closed condition.

Reverting to Fig. 3, the auxiliary case comprises a flat metal dish 64, flanged upwardly at 6B. The

auxiliary base ring 16 is bent downwardly to The dish 64 may be pushed upwardly around the flange 68 to form a sub-assembly, this joined relation being shown in Fig. 4. This is done before adding the base IE to the main cover.

[leads to and joins the dish. In the specific structure shown the ring frictionally engages the dish. The lower edge of the outside peripheral wall bears against and is in direct contact with the top material of the cigarette case.

It is this lower edge which is projected at intervals to form the tangs. The base ring is preferably of inverted channel section, and thus may be described as having both outside and inside walls, The inside wall has a depth nearly equal to, though preferably slightly less than, the depth of the outside wall, as will be clear from inspection of Figs. 3 and 4. The top wall is preferably recessed at the inner portion thereof to receive the cover, as will be clear from inspection of Figs. 3, 4, 7, 8 and 10.

The auxiliary cover I8 is shown in assembled form in Fig. 3, but the parts thereof may be described with reference to Fig. 5. There is a main cover 16, preferably formed of sheet metal and downwardly flanged at 12. A mirror 14 is received within the cover. The cover further comprises a ring it. This is peripherally flanged at 13, the flange being modified at one point to provide a hinge and at a diametrically opposite point to provide a detent 82 and a finger tab 84. The ring is curled inwardly at the bottom, as is indicated at 86, to hold the mirror 14. In assembling the parts the mirror is placed within the ring "it. The cover 10 is placed thereover and the flange T2 of the cover is bent inwardly around the flange 18 of the ring. The flange 12 of the cover is notched or cut away at 88 and 99 to clear the hinge 80 and the finger tab 84 previously referred to.

The nature of the cover assembly may be clearer on reference to Fig. '7, which is a fragmentary section taken at a more normal or random point about the periphery of the cover, instead of at the finger tab, and it will be seen how the flange P2 of the cover I0 is bent around the flange '18 of the ring 16, With the mirror 14 therebetween.

The detent 82 previously referred to cooperates with a mating recess in the auxiliary base ring I 6, the said recess being shown at 92 in Fig.3.

I prefer to use a metal top 10 for the auxiliary cover because this may be plated with a precious metal and printed with an ornamental picture, all in sharp contrast to the soft covering material of the main cover. However, it is not essential to employ a metal top for the auxiliary cover, and Fig. 8 illustrates a modification in which a layer of flexible material 94, preferably supported by a backing plate 96, is held in position over a ring 98, the latter being the same as the ring 16 previously described, but the parts being locked together by a channel I00 which is clamped about the peripheral edge of the assembly.

As so far described the vanity case is superimposed on a cigarette case which is rectangular in outline. However, from the standpoint of appearance some prefer that the circular cover be superimposed on a square case, and such a construction is shown in Fig. 9, in which a round auxiliary vanity case I02 is superimposed on a square cigarette case I04, the latter being hinged at I06 and locked at I08, all as was previously described for the rectangular case. The auxiliary cover is preferably hinged at Ill], and opened with the aid of a finger tab H2, as previously described.

It is not essential that the main case be a cigarette case. I have also applied the invention to a pocket case in which the main case is itself a vanity case, preferably square in shape, as shown in Fig. 9. The auxiliary cover may be used over an auxiliary compartment, or in some cases, I have used the same solely as a mirror. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 10 of the drawing. The main distinction between this arrangement and that shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is that the bottom dish 64 of the auxiliary compartgreat-"3 plate "and afterward if'printed "through' a silk is en; "the resulting illustration being made with r 'e"cialink] it'reated as'to provide a-permanent 'firi'ishwhicli"withstandslongwear.

v It is believed that themethod of constructing "ai' id f ssembling frny irhprov'ed "pocket case, as w ir-as; thetadvantagesj fthereof fwill 'be" apparent 'f m the foregoing"detaileddescription. The

e metal isjprelimin'arily platedwitheflgold 1 arifce; for the auxiliary 'co'ver ornaments the cket case is ofgreat utilityfand has the im- 1p rtaintadvantage"ofpreventing sifting of the 5 :thefiappearance 'o f theaux iliary cover. The

structure is comparativelysimple, and may 'be inafdeand' sold at reasonable costfwith the added advantagefthat the'main 'casemaybe of a known andjfalready' available construction, while the auxiliarycasej isj'addd thereto at minimum expen'se. Main casesm'a'd from the samedies'may be sold with and. without the auxiliary ca'se.

It"wi1l"be"understood that either of the cases may be rectangular, square or round, used with one another ill; any"desiredcornbination, although I prefer *a r'oundau'xiliary' case superposed on a rectangular or on a square case. It will also be understood that the pocket case may be used for any desired purpose, although I have shown a combination of cigarette case and Vanity case a preferred form of the invention. ltwill "thfereforabe apparent that while I have shown nd described my inventioninseveral" preferred formsgchanges may be madein'the structures disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as sought to be defined in the following claims. In the claims the reference to rectangulai -is"intn'ded"to-include square as a limiting example of rectangular. The reference to an auxiliary base and cover is intended to apply to such a cover used merely as a mirror, as well as when used to close an auxiliary compartment.

I claim:

1. A pocket case having main and auxiliary portions, the auxiliary portion of said case being somewhat smaller in dimension than the main portion, said main portion comprising a bottom and a main cover, said bottom and main cover each being made of soft flexible imperforate material spread tautly around a rigid frame, and said auxiliary portion comprising an auxiliary base and cover secured on top of and outside of the main cover, said auxiliary base including a metal dish and a surrounding ring having a generally upright peripheral wall and an inwardly extending na-fle f-f'i'ti" riafn engaging {said dish; the lower edgebf 'th peripheral wallfbeirig inf direct contact withsaid material; {sear lower edge being projec d atintrVaIs to "form" a plura'lity or "tangs" spaced about its periphery, said tangs' penetratingftliesoft material of the cover and being bent fiat -inside the'c'over, and said auxiliary cover being hing'e d' on saidauxiliary said auxiliary cover being "made "of ib'ase' ring, ietal. I

2. A pocket caseliaving "main and auxiliary portions, the main portion "of""said "case "being rectangular,and the 'auxiliaryportion' of said case being circular "s'ornwhat smaller fin dimension "than the 'main "portion, said "main iqottitm comprising a bottom a main cover, saidllbottomandj 'niain cover" e'ach' beingfmade or soft flexible "imperforate 'material"spread tautly around a rigid rectan ular frame, and said auxiliary portion comprisingan auxiliary "base and cover" se'cur'edont0p"ofandfoutside of "tlie 'i'riain co'vr; said auxiliary base includinga'l'rital "dish and a surrounding ring having a generally upright p'eripherafwalland" an inwardly extending flange frictidnally engaging) said "dish; the lower ed e of the peripheralwall beii'ig indiict contact with saidmaterial; sa'idfllower'edgebeifig projected at intervals to'folm' apluralityof tangs spaced' about its periphery, s 1d 'tangs' penetratng the soft material of'thelcov'er and being bent "fiat inside the coven'sald' cover' including lining material ccnc anag the ant tan'gs,aiid"said auxiliary cover 'h'aving a mrrorori the inside and being hinged on" said auxiliary base ring, said auxiliary cover being made of inetal finishedwith 'n'ap 'arahce ctmiasnrigstrb glywitl'i the appearance of the fiexibleinaterialbovering the main case portion. 7 I v '3. 'A combined: cigarette and vanity case, the vanity 'portion of said casebei'ng' somewhatsrnaller in dimension than the cigarette""portion;said cigarette portion eor'np rif ng'abottom and a" main cover, "said" bottomfand'fmain cover each "being made of soft flexible "imperforate m'aterial spread tautly'around a rigid frame; and said yantiy case portion comprising an auxiliaryfbase' and cover secured on' top crane outside of theniain cover, 'fsaid auxiliary'baseincluding a metaldish and a surrounding ring having a generally upright p'eripheral 'wall and an inwardly" extending flange leading to and joining said dish", the lower edgeiof the peripheral wallfbeingin direct-contact with said material; saidflow'eredge being projected at intervals to form a plurality of 't'an'gs spaced about its I p'eriphery;said taiigs penetrating the sof t inaterial'fof the main cover and being bent flat inside the cover, and said"auxiliaryfcov'er being hinged on said' auxiliary base ring, *sa'id auxiliary c'dver being made of metal.

4. A combined cigarette and vanity case, the cigarette portion of said case being rectangular, and the vanity portion of said case being circular and somewhat smaller in dimension than the cigarette portion, said cigarette portion comprising a bottom and a main cover, said bottom and main cover each being made of soft flexible imperforate material spread tautly around a rigid rectangular frame, and said vanity case portion comprising an auxiliary base and cover secured on top of and outside of the main cover, said auxiliary base including a metal dish and a surrounding ring having a generally upright peripheral wall and an inwardly extending flange leading to and joining said dish, the lower edge of the peripheral wall being in direct contact with said material, said lower edge being projected at intervals to form a plurality of tangs spaced about its periphery, said tangs penetrating the soft material of the main cover and being bent fiat inside the cover, said main cover including lining material concealing the bent tangs, and said auxiliary cover having a mirror on the inside and being hinged on said auxiliary base ring, said auxiliary cover being made of metal finished with an appearance contrasting strongly with the appearance of the flexible material covering the cigarette case portion.

5. A combined cigarette and vanity case, the vanity portion of said case being smaller in dimension than the cigarette portion, said cigarette portion comprising a bottom and a main cover. said bottom and main cover each being made of soft flexible imperforate material spread tautly around a rigid rectangular frame, and said frames being hinged along one edge of the case, and said vanity case portion comprising an auxiliary base and cover secured on top of and outside of the main cover, said auxiliary base including a metal ring of inverted channel section having outside and inside walls connected by a top wall, said inside wall having a depth substantially equal to said outside wall, said top Wall being recessed at the inner portion thereof to receive the cover, said outside wall having a plurality of downwardly directed tangs spaced about its periphery and forming direct extensions of the lower edge of said wall, the aforesaid tangs of the outside wall penetrating the soft material of the main cover and being bent flat inside the cover, said main cover including lining material concealing the bent tangs, and said auxiliary cover having a mirror on the inside and being hinged on said ring, said auxiliary cover being made of metal finished with an appearance contrasting strongly with the appearance of the flexible material covering the cigarette case portion.

6. A combined cigarette and vanity case, the cigarette portion of said case being rectangular, and the vanity portion of said case being circular and somewhat smaller in dimension than the cigarette portion, said cigarette portion comprising a bottom and a main cover, said bottom and main cover each being made of soft flexible imperforate material spread tautly around a rigid rectangular frame, and said frames being hinged along one edge of the case, and said vanity case portion comprising an auxiliary base and cover secured on top of and outside of the main cover, said auxiliary base including a metal ring of inverted channel section having outside and inside walls connected by a top wall, said inside wall having a depth substantially equal to said outside wall and being substantially vertical at its lower edge, said top wall being recessed at the inner portion thereof to receive the auxiliary cover, and said outside wall having a plurality of downwardly directed tangs spaced about its periphery and forming direct extensions of the lower edge of said wall, said auxiliary base further comprising a circular metal dish flanged upwardly to form a peripheral wall which is received with a tight fit around the lower edge of the aforesaid inside wall of the ring, the aforesaid tangs of the outside wall penetrating the soft material of the main cover and being bent flat inside the cover, said main cover including lining material concealing the bent tangs, and said auxiliary cover having a mirror on the inside and being hinged on said ring, said auxiliary cover being made of metal finished with an appearance contrasting strongly with the appearance of the flexible material covering the cigarette case portion.

7. A combined cigarette and vanity case, the vanity portion of said case being smaller in dimension than the cigarette portion, said cigarette portion comprising a bottom and a main cover, said main cover being made of soft flexible imperforate material spread over a rigid rectangular frame, and said vanity case portion comprising an auxiliary base and cover secured on top of and outside of the main cover, said auxiliary base including a metal ring of inverted channel section having outside and inside walls connected by a top wall, said outside wall having a plurality of downwardly directed tangs spaced about its periphery and forming direct extensions of the lower edge of said wall, and a bottom for said base, the aforesaid tangs of the outside wall penetrating the soft material of the main cover and being bent flat insid the cover, and the lower edge of said wall between said tangs being held tightly against the soft material of the main cover.

MAX KAPLAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 512,565 Read Jan. 9, 1894 697,601 Biren Apr. 15, 1902 2,068,813 Morey Jan. 26, 1937 2,425,540 Kaplan Aug. 12, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,326 Great Britain 1908 

